History

Varemete Farm is located in Lahemaa National Park, in the village of Kalme, Kuusalu Parish, Estonia.
The farm was founded in 1915 by Jaan Pärn, who came from Jägala and established the farm on the site of a former manor’s auxiliary estate – Kimbalu cattle manor. There were already many ruins here at that time, which is how the place came to be known as Varemete (which means “of the ruins”).

In 1949, the family was deported to Siberia and the property was taken over by a collective farm. In 1980, the abandoned and overgrown farm was miraculously returned to the family, who began restoring it. Later, the family also regained the farmland and pastures.

Today, the farm is home to the third generation of Jaan Pärn’s descendants.

Come and discover more.

Heritage Meadow 

TNext to the farm lies a heritage meadow – a semi-natural habitat shaped by the long cooperation between people and nature, rich in plant and animal species.

After the collective farm period, the meadow remained unmanaged for a long time: drainage ditches were trampled closed by animals and the area became overgrown with brush. We restored the heritage meadow in 2016 by clearing the ditches and removing the brush, after which grazing was reintroduced.

Gradually, nettles and thistles began to retreat, and cowslips, globeflowers and other meadow plants returned.

From 2026 onwards, we maintain the meadow by mowing and open nature trails for visitors.

Come and explore the species that live here.